Special Poll
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to deliver a direct message to European allies this week during a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels. The Trump administration wants European countries to continue buying American-made weapons — a point Rubio plans to reinforce while in Belgium from Wednesday through Friday.
Here are the key points:
- The Trump administration is pressuring NATO allies in Europe to maintain or increase their purchases of U.S. defense equipment.
- This effort coincides with a broader push by the administration for Europe to boost its defense spending, while the U.S. shifts more strategic focus toward the Indo-Pacific region.
- While European officials largely agree they need to strengthen their own defense capabilities, many are now investing in their own military-industrial sector rather than relying solely on U.S. suppliers.
- Reuters, citing five unnamed sources, reported that U.S. officials had already made their expectations clear to European governments regarding continued purchases of American weapons.
- A senior State Department official confirmed that Rubio will specifically raise this topic while in Brussels.
- A State Department spokesperson emphasized the U.S. remains committed to offering high-quality defense products at competitive prices and that maintaining NATO interoperability is essential.
- Trump supports Europe increasing its defense production but wants the U.S. defense industry to remain central to the transatlantic supply chain.
There’s growing friction, however:
- European leaders are also rolling out the “ReArm Europe” plan, a multibillion-dollar initiative to fund defense manufacturing within the EU and reduce reliance on outside suppliers, especially from the U.S.
- The plan includes over $860 billion in potential military investments and $160 billion in EU-backed loans for countries upgrading their defense systems.
- France’s President Emmanuel Macron has openly advocated for European nations to “buy European,” suggesting alternatives like the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system instead of U.S.-made Patriots.
- European officials acknowledge that some U.S. systems, like the F-35 stealth fighter, are difficult to replace. But concerns remain over American influence, including fears that U.S. weapons could come with restrictions or be controlled remotely through software limitations or intelligence gating.
- Recent tensions were exacerbated when the Trump administration temporarily restricted Ukraine’s access to U.S. intelligence during ceasefire negotiations — a move that rattled many allies.
Some in Europe argue that continuing to purchase American weapons helps maintain strong economic and strategic ties with the U.S., especially with Trump’s deal-oriented style. However, even those who support ongoing transatlantic cooperation admit that Europe needs to build more autonomy into its defense production — in part due to lingering doubts about long-term U.S. reliability.
Despite the growing interest in European defense alternatives, U.S. weapons — especially advanced systems like the F-35 — remain a cornerstone of NATO military capability. But with political pressure mounting from both sides of the Atlantic, and skepticism over U.S. political stability rising, the coming months may determine whether Europe continues to rely on American arms or moves closer to defense self-sufficiency.
As one senior European official put it, even if transatlantic trust had not been shaken in recent years, “Europe still needs to be able to stand on its own.”